Man erects electric fence to keep school kids out of yard

A Virginia man says he erected an electrified fence to keep kids waiting for the school bus off his property.

Richmond TV stations

and WWBT quote Henrico County homeowner Bryan Tucker as saying that he put the fence around his yard because he was tired of students trespassing and leaving trash on his property.

"I'm not in charge of other people's children," said Tucker. "I'm not directing other people's children what to do. All I can do is protect myself and that's why I've got a fence up."

The stations report that Tucker did not accompany the fence with a warning sign, which led parents to call police.

Police contacted public works officials, who determined the fence was on the county's right of way and had to be taken down.

Tucker does not plan to give in, claiming no trespassing signs do little to keep children away from his yard.

"It says no trespassing for any purpose," said Tucker. "Strictly forbidden. Violators will be prosecuted."

He's been ordered to take the fence down, but he can put it back up if he keeps it at his property line, rather than where it currently encroaches on a county easement.